Truss



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJM. W. STRATTON, OF SOUTHWARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BENJM. C. EVERETT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRUSS.

'To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN W. STRAT- ToN, of Southwark, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new Mode of Constructing and Using Trusses and Abdominal Supporters with a Socket Hinge; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of it.

The nature of my invention consists in such a combination of several principles, in a novel manner, and ofsuch a socket hinge, as will make it easy to vary the pressure of the truss or supporter at pleasure, thus making it perform its office in greater perfection, both for health and comfort. This is done by constructing the main spring (see letters A, A, A, of the drawing) of the truss so as to pass across the body above the hernia and to support the viscera above the opening or hernia, by putting upon it one or more slides, and by fixing the pad or pads to the slide by a ratchet hinge, so made as to be moved outward or inward at pleasure.

To enable others skilled in art, to make and use my invention, I will give its construction and operation.

The main spring-see drawing Figure 1, letters A, A, A, is madev as usual, so bent as to pass across the abdomen in front, let it be applied on either side,-the s1ide,-see drawing, Fig. 5, letter B,-mtended to move on the main spring has an aperture*Fig. 5 letter R, fitted to the main spring, so that it can be put upon it and move or slide upon it to any desirable point on the mam spring, and there be fastened by a screw-Figs. 2 and 5 letter N,-so inserted as to press on the edge of the main spring,-the slide is one part of a hinge-Fig. 5 letter Gr,-the other part of which is made longer or shorter, as the size of the pad to be fastened upon it, shall require; the part of the hinge at the end contiguous to the other part when tted to its place in the joint, is made with notches or teeth-F ig. 5 letters D, D,-about half a circle, into which teeth a spring catch- F ig..

5, letter E,-which is fastened upon the other part of the hinge, z'. e. on the part without teeth, so as to catch in the teeth and form the ratchet, which ratchet spring can be easily raised and thus free the ratchet and permit the pad part of the hinge to play outward or inward, or it can be let down and then catching in the teeth, will prevent its moving one way and allow it to move the other to the desired adjustment.

Thus the pad or pads can be made to slide Combining the ratchet hinge with -the truss pad and slide upon the flat spring by which I give the advantage of permanency of the pad and ease of adjustment.

BENJM. IV. STRATTON. Vitnesses:

NEWMAN EVERETT,

JOHN F. ORA. 

